By Yuri Pilipenko, CEO, and Michael J. Pilotti, Americas Key Accounts Manager
Walking through the doors of Automate 2025 in Detroit felt less like attending a trade show and more like stepping into a sci-fi city brought to life.
This year’s event brought together over 875 vendors and 40,000 attendees, showcasing innovations that are no longer futuristic—they’re part of the industrial present. The air was filled with buzzing drones, agile robot dogs, and smart machines performing intricate tasks once reserved for human hands.
Yet, what stood out most wasn’t just the “technology,” it was the cultural shift running alongside it — a shift that made one thing clear: transformation in manufacturing is no longer just about platforms, it’s about people, too.
The Rise of AI — and the Readiness It Demands
Artificial Intelligence dominated conversations at the show — not just as a concept, but as a tangible solution built into real tools.
“AI was the most talked-about technological advancement and enabler during the show… but it’s only as powerful as the data and the way that data is contextualized,”
— Michael J. Pilotti, Americas Key Accounts Manager
That’s the real challenge for many manufacturers: their data is either siloed, outdated, or unstructured. It’s why conversations about AI can only begin after another one happens first — a conversation about system readiness.
At OLSOM, we’ve written about this before: how legacy systems can silently hold back digital progress. You can’t automate what you can’t measure, and you can’t optimize what you don’t understand. (Read: “Why Waiting to Upgrade from Legacy Systems is not an Option”)
“The loop is simple. Collect data, analyze, act, and repeat. But most MES systems today only support the first half of that cycle. Our job now is to build in the intelligence to close the loop — automatically.”
— Yuri Pilipenko, CEO of OLSOM
Human + Machine, Not Human vs. Machine
If AI was the brain of Automate 2025, then robotics was the body. It was everywhere — from collaborative robots (“cobots”) working alongside operators, to autonomous mobile bots navigating production floors with ease.
But while robots generated excitement, they also sparked questions — especially in established plants.
“Robots should be considered as human assistants rather than their replacements. Plants that start from scratch face fewer challenges than brownfield sites, where workers worry that robots mean job losses.”
— Michael J. Pilotti, Americas Key Accounts Manager
This is where technology must be paired with change management. Our experience — and echoed by other vendors at the show — is that complexity at the operator level often creates resistance. Employees feel monitored, mistrusted, or displaced. Interfaces that are too busy, too “IT,” or too rigid can result in sabotage or refusal to adopt.
“One system cannot accurately display the same interface and data to the plant station operators as it would to plant management. The skill sets, the concerns — they’re just different.”
— Michael J. Pilotti, Americas Key Accounts Manager
“Most of the execution will be handled by automated systems. The role of the human will shift — to supervision, optimization, engineering.”
— Yuri Pilipenko, CEO, OLSOM
At OLSOM, we design AGW with that very principle in mind: tailored interfaces and role-based simplicity.
Building the Right Culture for Change
Beyond tech, Automate 2025 emphasized what success in transformation truly requires: belief in a shared purpose, openness to change, and leadership that knows when to pivot.
“Success does not happen by waiting for opportunities. It happens by predicting what can happen and staying disciplined in your plan. Build your understanding on facts.”
— Michael J. Pilotti, Americas Key Accounts Manager
This kind of culture—proactive, innovative, and intentional—is something we’ve been cultivating at OLSOM from the start. It’s why we’re confident not just in our technology, but in our people, our roadmap, and the partners we choose to support.
What’s Next
The takeaway from Automate 2025 is simple: the future is no longer coming; it’s already here.
For manufacturers still relying on Excel sheets or hesitant to take the first step toward transformation—this is the moment to start. Outdated tools can’t support tomorrow’s operations — but with the right partner and a clear plan, the leap isn’t just possible; it’s practical.
“The pace of evolution is no longer measured in decades. It’s years — and it’s accelerating.”
— Yuri Pilipenko, CEO of OLSOM
And, at OLSOM, we’re ready to help make it happen. Talk to our team!
